Handheld electronic bubble game

ABSTRACT

A handheld electronic game includes a housing assembly; resilient domes protruding from the housing assembly; and a programmable, interactive system and at least one light emitting diode mounted within the housing, electrically connected to the programmable, interactive system. The housing assembly has a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. Each of the domes has a first surface and a second surface. The domes can transition from a first position where the first surface is convex to a second position where the second surface is convex. The programmable, interactive system includes a microprocessor and a sensor. The sensor is electrically connected to the microprocessor and senses when one or more of the domes transitions from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position. The domes can be returned to their first position with a reset mechanism or manually.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 63/369,700, filed Jul. 28, 2022, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to games and, more particularly, to ahandheld electronic bubble game.

People appear to have been involved in the playing of games since thebeginning of recorded history. The almost universal interest in gamesseems to be due to the excitement engendered by competition and chance.Competitive games are probably more exciting, other factors being equal;but they normally require that several persons be involved in each suchgame. Many competitive games are complex and require many players, largefields, and a substantial amount of equipment.

Recently, various improvements in electronic circuitry have allowed thereduction in size and cost of data processing circuitry. Handheldelectronic games enable a player to compete with criteria set by thegame software. Even so, a novel game has a distinct attractiveness to aplayer.

As can be seen, there is a need for a novel, simple, handheld electronicgame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a handheld electronic gameincludes a housing assembly having a front housing portion and a rearhousing portion; resilient domes protruding from the housing assembly,each of the resilient domes having a first surface and a second surfacetransitionable from a first position wherein the first surface is aconvex surface of the dome to a second position wherein the secondsurface is the convex surface of the dome; a programmable, interactivesystem including a microprocessor and a sensor mounted within thehousing, wherein the sensor is electrically connected to themicroprocessor and is operative to sense when one or more of theelastomeric domes transitions from the first position to the secondposition or from the second position to the first position; and at leastone light emitting diode mounted within the housing, electricallyconnected to the programmable, interactive system.

In another aspect of the present invention,

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handheld electronic bubble gameaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view thereof, the right side elevationview being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is another top plan view thereof, illustrating movement of a rearbutton into a depressed position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view thereof, with the rear button shown in aresting position;

FIG. 8 is another sectional view thereof, with the rear button shown ina depressed position;

FIG. 9 is another perspective view thereof, shown with a bubble domeshown in a depressed position;

FIG. 10 is another perspective view thereof, with an enlarged regionillustrating movement of the bubble dome into the depressed position;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a method of playing the game of FIG. 1according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a handheld electronic bubble gameaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a left side elevation view thereof, the right side elevationview being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 17 is another top plan view thereof, illustrating movement of therear button into a depressed position;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view thereof;

FIG. 19 is another perspective view thereof, shown with a bubble down ina depressed position;

FIG. 20 is another perspective view thereof, with an enlarged regionillustrating movement of the bubble dome into the depressed position;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustrating a method of playing the of FIG. 12according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a handheld electronic bubble gameaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 24 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 25 is a left side elevation view thereof, with the right sideelevation view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 26 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 27 is a sectional view thereof;

FIG. 28 is another perspective view thereof, shown with a bubble in adepressed position;

FIG. 29 is another perspective view thereof, with an enlarged regionillustrating movement of the bubble dome into the depressed position;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a method of playing the game of FIG. 22according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a schematic view of a printed circuit board within thehandheld electronic bubble game of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 32 is an enlarged detail wireframe view of the device of FIG. 23 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is a handheldelectronic game having a sheet of “bubbles”, i.e., convex domes,protruding from a housing. The bubbles may be “popped” by pressing downon them, which inverts them to concave.

The number of bubbles is not particularly limited and may be, forexample, about 5 to about 10 bubbles.

In some embodiments, a light emitting diode (LED) and a touch orpressure sensitive input component are located directly under each ofthe bubbles, such that the bubbles are individually illuminated when thecorresponding LED is activated. For example, in an embodiment having 10bubbles, the game may also have 10 LEDs and 10 input sensors. Thesensors may include, but are not limited to, proximity sensors,including capacitive sensors, or any other type of sensor operative tosense when a bubble has been depressed.

As used herein, the terms “pop” or “popped” refer to depressing a convexdome to a concave condition. The terms “unpop” or “unpopped” refer toresetting a dome from concave to convex condition.

The game may have a programmable and interactive system for illuminatingand extinguishing LEDs for individual bubbles, detecting when they arepopped, and detecting when they are reset. The system may compriseelectronics including components selected from but not limited to amicroprocessor, batteries to power the device, a speaker to producesound, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). The PCBA may beelectrically connected to, among other components, the LEDs and thetouch sensitive (e.g., capacitive) inputs. The inputs may alternativelybe mechanical switches, activated by the bubble. The microprocessor mayilluminate a pattern or sequence of LEDs and may track the player'ssuccess in successfully popping the bubbles according to the pattern orsequence. The microprocessor may provide increasingly difficult gamesfor the player, which may include increasing the number of bubbles thatmust be popped and/or decreasing a predetermined amount of time in whichthe game may be played.

When a bubble is popped, the input under the bubble may sense pressurefrom the user's finger and sends a signal to the microprocessor, so themicroprocessor knows the bubble has been popped. The microprocessor mayperform an action based on this input, such as turning the LEDs on oroff and playing sounds.

The game may comprise a reset mechanism that allows a player to “reset”or unpop some or all the popped bubbles. For example, a plastic resetbutton may be pressed or squeezed to activate electronic switches on thePCBA. Those inputs send a signal to the microprocessor, letting it knowthe user has reset the bubbles. The bubbles are physically reset (pushedinto their original convex state) by plastic pins, one for each bubble,that move through the PCBA and push the bubbles upward. Preferably, thereset button is large, having a size sufficient so that the player mayeasily reset the bubbles. The reset button may be positioned on the backof the unit, opposite the bubbles.

The game may be powered by rechargeable or disposable batteries, such asAA, AAA, and the like.

In some embodiments, the device may comprise a sheet of 26 bubbles, eachcorresponding to a letter of the alphabet. In these embodiments, theplayer may be guided to spell a word by popping a predetermined set ofbubbles in a predetermined sequence.

A method of playing the game may include a player “popping” illuminatedbubbles to turn off or extinguish lights and/or play sounds.

The materials of manufacture are not particularly limited. The game mayhave a plastic housing. The sheet of bubbles may be manufactured fromrubber, silicone, or resilient plastic. The reset button may be aresilient plastic or rigid plastic.

The method of manufacture is not particularly limited. The housing maybe molded and/or tooled, for example.

The components may be fastened together using any suitable attachmentmeans, such as attachment hardware. A non-limiting example may includescrews.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 30 , FIGS. 1-10 illustrate a firstembodiment of a handheld electronic bubble game; FIGS. 12-20 illustratea second embodiment of a handheld electronic bubble game; and FIGS.22-29 illustrate a third embodiment of a handheld electronic bubblegame. FIG. 11 shows a method of using the game of FIGS. 1-10 . FIG. 21shows a method of using the game of FIGS. 12-20 . FIG. 30 shows a methodof using the game of FIGS. 21-29 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , the game 10 has a housing assembly 12 comprising afront housing component 14 and a rear housing component 16, withapertures 18, 20, 22 formed in the front housing component 14, the rearhousing component 16, and formed between upper edges of the front andrear housing components 14, 16. A unitary elastomeric panel 30, with aplurality of domes or bubbles 32 formed in rows therein, is mountedwithin the front housing component 14 aperture 18. A reset actuator orbutton 40 is slidably mounted within the rear housing component 16aperture 20; see FIG. 6 . A speaker 50 is mounted in the aperture 22formed between the front and rear housing components 14, 16. In theillustrated embodiment, a dome 32 in the top row may be depressed or“popped” to select a predetermined game algorithm (see FIGS. 9 and 10 )and a dome 32 in the bottom row may be depressed to select the volumesetting of the speaker 50, as indicated by indicia displayed on thefront housing component 14.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the rear housing component 16 is fastened to thefront housing component 14 with screws 24. The button 40 also serves asa battery compartment (not shown) having a cover 42, secured with ascrew 44.

Turning to FIG. 7 , a microprocessor printed circuit board 34 mountedwithin the housing assembly 12 behind the unitary elastomeric panel 30has apertures 35 configured to accommodate rods or posts 46 extendingfrom an interior of the button 40, perpendicular to the plane formed bythe battery compartment cover 42, with one of the rods 46 aligned behindeach bubble 32. The printed circuit board 34 generally detects when abubble 32 has been depressed with a capacitive sensor antenna 37 and haslight emitting diodes 39 aligned with each of the bubbles 32, which areactivated when the bubble is depressed. (See FIG. 31 .) The printedcircuit board 34 may also detect when the button 40 is depressed toreset the bubbles 32 and the gameplay. As shown in FIG. 8 , when thebutton 40 is depressed, the rods 46 slidably pass through the printedcircuit board 34, pressing an interior of the bubbles 32, resetting anydepressed bubbles 32. The printed circuit board 34 is electronicallyconnected with the battery compartment in the button 40 and iselectronically connected to the speaker 50.

The game 10 may be used as shown in the flowchart in FIG. 11 . The usermay press one of three bubbles in the top row to select a game and maydepress or squeeze the button 40 to start the game. Software on themicroprocessor starts the game, sets a timer for the allowed time limit,turns on a certain number of LEDs and waits for user input. The userattempts to press bubbles to reconstruct the pattern of illuminated LEDsdisplayed at each level. If user pops the illuminated (LED on) bubbleswithin the time allowed, the level of play is complete, and the user maysqueeze the reset button to reset the bubbles and continue to the nextlevel of the game. If the user fails to reproduce the sequence displayedwithin the allotted time, the game ends, and the microprocessor displaysthe user's score, using a pattern and sequence of LEDs turning on/off.The printed circuit board 34 may be configured to enter a “sleep” modewhen the game has been inactive for a predetermined period.

As seen in FIG. 12 , a second embodiment of the game 110 according to anembodiment of the present invention has a substantially circular housingassembly 112 comprising a front housing component 114 coupled to a rearhousing component 116, forming a handle 60 on its perimeter. Anelastomeric panel 130 mounted within an aperture in the front housingcomponent 114 has bubbles 32 arranged in a square configuration with anadditional bubble 32 in the center.

FIG. 14 illustrates the rear housing component 116 with a button 140slidably mounted in an aperture therethrough; see FIG. 15 . The rearhousing component 116 is fastened to the front housing component 114with screws 24. The button 140 has a battery compartment formed therein,with a cover 142 fastened in place with a screw 44.

As shown in FIG. 18 , a printed circuit board/processor 134 is mountedwithin the housing behind the bubbles 32. A speaker is mounted withinthe housing, offset from the button 140. The button 140 has a rod 146aligned with each bubble 32. The printed circuit board 146 has aperturesformed therethrough, operative to slidably accommodate the rods 146,which may be used to reset “popped” bubbles 32. The printed circuitboard 146 operates LEDs (not shown) aligned behind each bubble 32.Volume may be controlled by a bubble 32 indicated by indicia on thepanel 130, while another bubble 32 may be used to obtain the currenthigh score.

The method of operation, illustrated in FIG. 21 , is comparable to themethod of operating the first embodiment of the game.

In some embodiments, the LEDs may emit multiple colors in a pattern. Theprinted circuit board 134 may be configured to operate multiple games,such as a game that illuminates a predetermined pattern of colors whichmay be randomly reset from use to use and monitors whether the userdepresses the bubbles 32 associated with colors predetermined to becorrect in the predetermined pattern, while avoiding bubbles associatedwith colors predetermined to be incorrect, such as red.

FIG. 22 illustrates an electronic handheld bubble game 210 according toanother embodiment of the present invention. The game 210 comprises ahousing assembly 212 having a lobed circumference, including a fronthousing component 214 and a rear housing component 216, fastenedtogether with screws 24 (see FIG. 24 ). The housing components 214, 216have colocated apertures 218, 220 formed therethrough spaced around theperimeter of the housing 212, with an individual resilient dome orbubble 232 mounted in each aperture. Each bubble 232 has a first markingdisposed on a first surface and a second marking disposed on a secondsurface opposite the first surface. In the illustrated example, which isnot intended to limit the invention, the first marking on each bubble232 is a number, each number being distinct from the others, and thesecond marking is an animal icon, each animal icon being distinct fromthe others. A control panel 215 is displayed on the front housingcomponent 214, housing switches 217 enabling the user to selectoperational features of the game 210, a speaker 250, and a centrallypositioned LED (not shown) visible through a window 219. While theinvention is not limited thereto, the LED housed within the illustratedhousing assembly 212 is visible from both the front and the rear of thedevice 210 and may emit multiple colors of illumination in predeterminedor random patterns.

As shown in FIG. 24 , a battery compartment 221 is formed in the rearhousing component 216, with a battery compartment lid 242 fastenedthereon with a screw 44. Each bubble 232 has a protrusion 233 on itssecond surface aligned with a notch in the housing (not shown),activating a sensor 231 (see FIG. 32 ) when the bubble is depressed.

The housing assembly 212 houses a microprocessor having a printedcircuit board 234 electronically connected to the sensors (not shown),the LED (not shown), the speaker 250, and the battery compartment 221.

The game 210 may be operated as described in FIG. 30 . The user slidesswitches to select game features and depresses a bubble to start thegame. The user may continue to pop bubbles to activate other sounds(e.g., “ONE!”) associated with the first surface of each of the bubbles.The game 210 detects if it is inverted and the microprocessor emits asound and illuminates the LED. As the user depresses bubbles, themicroprocessor emits a sound (e.g., “ROAR!”) associated with the secondsurface of the bubble and illuminates the LED.

As shown in FIG. 31 , the printed circuit board 34 of FIGS. 7 and 8 hasa height 301 and a width 302, with rows of holes 35 spacedcenter-to-center by a first distance 303, while individual holes 35 ineach row are spaced center-to-center by a second distance 304. Each hole35 is encircled with a capacitive sensor antenna 37, which senses whenan immediately adjacent bubble 32 is “popped”. Adjacent to each hole isa light-emitting diode (LED), which is selectively illuminated by themicroprocessor.

FIG. 32 illustrates the location of a sensor 231 of FIG. 23 , adjacentto a flange or protrusion 233 extending from the bubble 232.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld electronic game comprising: a housingassembly having a front housing portion and a rear housing portion;resilient domes protruding from the housing assembly, each of theresilient domes having a first surface and a second surfacetransitionable from a first position wherein the first surface is aconvex surface of the resilient dome to a second position wherein thesecond surface is the convex surface of the resilient dome; aprogrammable, interactive system including a microprocessor and a sensormounted within the housing assembly, wherein the sensor is electricallyconnected to the microprocessor and is operative to sense when one ormore of the elastomeric domes transitions from the first position to thesecond position or from the second position to the first position; andat least one light emitting diode mounted within the housing,electrically connected to the programmable, interactive system.
 2. Thehandheld electronic game of claim 1, wherein the programmable,interactive system further comprises electronic components, electricallyconnected to the microprocessor, selected from the group consisting of abattery compartment, batteries, a speaker, a printed circuit boardassembly, and any combination thereof.
 3. The handheld electronic gameof claim 1, wherein the resilient domes are integrally formed in anelastomeric panel mounted within an aperture in the front housingportion.
 4. The handheld electronic game of claim 1, wherein the lightemitting diode is one of a plurality of light emitting diodes locateddirectly behind each of the resilient domes that are each operative toindividually illuminate the respective one of the resilient domes. 5.The handheld electronic game of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of aplurality of proximity sensors located proximal to each of the resilientdomes, such that the sensor is directly behind one of the resilientdomes or is adjacent to a perimeter of the one of the resilient domes.6. The handheld electronic game of claim 1, wherein the microprocessoris operative to track a player's success in transitioning the firstposition to the second position of a series of the resilient domesaccording to a predetermined sequential pattern.
 7. The handheldelectronic game of claim 1, wherein each of the resilient domes hasindicia for a discrete letter of the English alphabet.
 8. The handheldelectronic game of claim 1, wherein an aperture is formed between edgesof the front and rear housing portions that accommodates a speaker; andwherein the speaker electrically communicates with the microprocessor.9. The handheld electronic game of claim 1, wherein the programmable,interactive system activates the light emitting diode when any of theresilient domes transitions from the first position to the secondposition.
 10. The handheld electronic game of claim 1, wherein thehousing assembly further comprises a handle, a front portion of which isintegrally formed in the front housing portion, and a rear portion ofwhich is integrally formed in the rear housing portion.
 11. The handheldelectronic game of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode isoperative to emit multiple colors in a pattern determined by theprogrammable, interactive system.
 12. The handheld electronic game ofclaim 1, wherein the housing assembly has a lobed circumference, with anaperture formed through each lobe to form a circular frame; and one ofthe resilient domes is mounted in each aperture; and wherein each of theresilient domes has discrete indicia on each of the first surface andthe second surface.
 13. The handheld electronic game of claim 1, whereina control panel is formed in the front housing portion, having gameoperation switches laterally slidable therein, wherein the gameoperation switches electronically communicate with the microprocessor.14. The handheld electronic game of claim 1, wherein the front housingportion and the rear housing portion have a centrally located windowwith the light emitting diode mounted therebetween.
 15. The handheldelectronic game of claim 1, wherein each of the resilient domes has aprotrusion extending from its second surface operative to activate thesensor when the respective resilient dome transitions from the firstposition to the second position or from the second position to the firstposition.
 16. The handheld electronic game of claim 1, furthercomprising an orientation sensor mounted within the housing assemblyoperative to detect inversion of the housing assembly and electricallyconnected to the microprocessor.
 17. The handheld electronic game ofclaim 1, further comprising a spring biased reset mechanism havingintegrally formed pins slidably mounted within an aperture in the rearhousing portion and slidably accommodated by an element of theprogrammable, interactive system, wherein the spring biased resetmechanism is operative to urge the resilient domes into the firstposition when the spring biased reset mechanism is urged into thehousing assembly, and wherein the first position is a default positionin which the resilient domes protrude convexly from the housingassembly.
 18. The handheld electronic game of claim 17, whereinprogrammable, interactive system further comprises electronic switchesoperative to send a signal to the microprocessor indicating reset of theresilient domes to the first position upon activation by the springbiased reset mechanism.
 19. The handheld electronic game of claim 17,wherein the spring biased reset mechanism has a battery compartmentformed therein with a cover screwably secured to the spring biased resetmechanism; and where the battery compartment electrically communicateswith the programmable, interactive system.